Abstract: A solution is proposed for reducing the response time of a long query submitted by a client (110) to a server (105)—storing a corresponding database (205). For this purpose, when the server receives the query from the client it starts collecting the result of the query into a table (210), wherein the corresponding selected records are directly accessible at page level (to the contrary of the database). As soon as a first page (Pg1) of the selected records is available in the table, the page is transmitted to the client for its display. Meanwhile, in a completely asynchronous manner, the server continues populating the table. Later on, the user of the client submits a browsing command to the server for moving to a different page (Pgk). In response thereto, the server extracts this page from the table (as soon as available) and returns it to the client directly.

Abstract: A method of managing configuration changes in a data processing system, particularly a network wherein software products (250) must be distributed to client workstations. The method provides the definition of reference models (220e-220d) arranged in a tree (215); each reference model includes configuration elements (such as software products and/or hardware features and their desired target status) for the corresponding client workstations (subscribers). A target configuration (230) of the client workstations associated with each reference model is determined by inheriting the configuration elements of the parent reference models. A list of actions (245) to be carried out on each client workstation for reaching the corresponding target configuration is determined by comparing the target configuration with a current configuration of the client workstation stored in a corresponding inventory (245).

Abstract: A resource management method (400c) and a corresponding system implementing an adaptive model are proposed. The method allows an authority to define a desired target state of several kinds of resources, which are directly controlled by different subjects. The authority publishes (460) a series of rules in a shared repository; each rule indicates the target state of a resource for a corresponding logic or physic category of the subjects. Each subject retrieves (444-456;462-468) the rules corresponding to its logic category from the shared repository. The rules are then applied (458;469) by the subject; as a result, the physic category of the subject is updated. The subject now retrieves and applies the rules corresponding to its physic category. In this way, different dependency schemes may be implemented without any explicit definition in the rules.

Abstract: A resource management method (400c) and a corresponding system implementing an adaptive model are proposed. The method allows an authority to define a desired target state of several kinds of resources, which are directly controlled by different subjects. The authority publishes (460) a series of rules in a shared repository; each rule indicates the target state of a resource for a corresponding logic or physic category of the subjects. Each subject retrieves (444-456;462-468) the rules corresponding to its logic category from the shared repository. The rules are then applied (458;469) by the subject; as a result, the physic category of the subject is updated. The subject now retrieves and applies the rules corresponding to its physic category. In this way, different dependency schemes may be implemented without any explicit definition in the rules.

Abstract: A self-adaptive resource management method and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, an authority (105) publishes multiple rules into a corresponding repository (115). Each rule defines a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (110). Some of the rules can be conditioned to an authorization for their application on the subjects (by means of an optional enabling code). Whenever a generic subject tries to apply a conditioned rule, a test is made to verify whether the application of the rule has been authorized for the subject; if not, the subject is considered not compliant with the rule for a lack of authorization.

Abstract: A resource management method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, an authority publishes (324) multiple rules, each one defining a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (without any information about their dependencies). Each subject retrieves (320–322, 326) the rules corresponding to its category in a random order. The rules are then applied (427–439) on the subject according to a trial-and-fail approach. Particularly, the application of any failed rule is continually repeated (427–448), until all the rules are successfully applied (463) or a deadlock condition is detected (451). In this way, any dependency is automatically resolved on the subject at run time. Moreover, as soon as all the rules have been successfully applied the compliance of the subject to the rules is verified (455–457) again; should the subject be not compliant to one or more rules any longer, an infinite loop condition is detected (466).

Abstract: A resource management method (500) and a corresponding system implementing an adaptive model are proposed. The method allows an authority to define a desired target state of several kinds of resources, which are directly controlled by different subjects. The authority publishes a series of rules in a shared repository; each rule indicates the target state of a resource for a corresponding category of the subjects. Each subject provides (509–515) the corresponding category to an associated helper (120). The helper retrieves (521–530) the rules corresponding to the category of the subject from the shared repository. The helper then enforces (533–564) application of the rules on the subject. In this way, the subjects adapt to the rules without requiring any direct interaction with the authority, even if they do not have the necessary computational power required to be completely autonomous.

Abstract: A method (300) for planning assignment of floating licenses of software products is proposed. Floating licenses can be requested to a runtime server by multiple workstations (to which they are assigned until a maximum number of instances of the product are running concurrently). In the solution of the invention, a user of every workstation needing to run the product in a future timeframe submits (306) a corresponding reservation request to the runtime server. If at least one license is available for the selected timeframe, the runtime server reserves (357) the license to the workstation (so as to prevent assigning it to other workstations for the same period); at the same time, a corresponding temporary permission is stored (360) on the workstation. In this way, the product can be used (363-387) during the selected timeframe on the workstation only; this is possible without any risk even if the workstation is disconnected from the runtime server.

Abstract: A self-adaptive resource management method (200) is proposed. The system is based on an authority (105) that publishes multiple rules into a corresponding repository (115). Each rule defines a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (110); each category is specified by one or more attributes that are evaluated by corresponding scanners (233-239). Whenever new rules are published, a dedicated module (120) creates and publishes further rules for selectively installing the scanners that are required for evaluating the attributes included in the categories of the new rules. These further rules are defined according to an algorithm that attempts to minimize the cost involved by the installation of the scanners.

Abstract: A self-adaptive resource management method and a corresponding system. An authority publishes multiple rules into a corresponding repository. Each rule defines a desired target configuration for a category of subjects. Some rules are also associated with a corresponding stage in a predefined flow of application of the rules. A supervisor publishes the value of a current stage into a workflow repository. Each subject retrieves and applies the rules for its category and corresponding to the current stage. Information about the compliance of the subjects with the corresponding rules is published in a membership data repository. The supervisor detects the completion of the current stage when the subjects are compliant with the corresponding rules, and updates the value of the current stage to start a further stage.

Abstract: A resource management method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, an authority publishes (324) multiple rules, each one defining a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (without any information about their dependencies). Each subject retrieves (320-322, 326) the rules corresponding to its category in a random order. The rules are then applied (427-439) on the subject according to a trial-and-fail approach. Particularly, the application of any failed rule is continually repeated (427-448), until all the rules are successfully applied (463) or a deadlock condition is detected (451). In this way, any dependency is automatically resolved on the subject at run time. Moreover, as soon as all the rules have been successfully applied the compliance of the subject to the rules is verified (455-457) again; should the subject be not compliant to one or more rules any longer, an infinite loop condition is detected (466).

Abstract: A software distribution system comprises building blocks including a preparation and test site, comprising a software package editor, software package transformation tools and an AutoPack module for preparing and testing software packages to be distributed to endpoints. A software package comprises a file including a complete definition of the actions involved in a software distribution and, once distributed, when a software package is available to a target endpoint, an engine resident on the target can be instructed via the management agent to decode the software package from the file into memory and then to perform various software distribution operations including installing, removing and modifying the software and configuration of the endpoint.

Abstract: A software distribution method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, each software package (which is used to deploy a desired software product) includes the definition of installation actions and configuration actions; the installation actions are used to load the software product (including its initial configuration), whereas the configuration actions are used to set configuration options of the software product after the installation. The software package can be applied (316-332;346) on each endpoint specifying an installation activity or a configuration activity (involving the execution of the corresponding actions). In this way, it is possible to reconfigure (346) a software product that is already available without its reinstallation; moreover, it is possible to correct (374) configuration errors directly on the endpoint.

Abstract: A method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed for configuring different computers of a network. Each computer plays a specific physic role (defined by an architecture of the network) and/or a specific logic role (defined by the applications running in the network). A reference model and a transition table are associated (306-312) with each product to be installed in the network; the reference model specifies a target configuration for each role (defined by the components of the product to be installed), while the transition table specifies the actions required to reach each target configuration from each current configuration of the computers. A server identifies (330-336) the role and the current configuration of each computer; the actions required to enforce the desired target configuration on the computer are then established and executed (333,339-366).

Abstract: A self-adaptive resource management method and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, an authority (105) publishes multiple rules into a corresponding repository (115). Each rule defines a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (110). Some of the rules can be conditioned to an authorization for their application on the subjects (by means of an optional enabling code). Whenever a generic subject tries to apply a conditioned rule, a test is made to verify whether the application of the rule has been authorized for the subject; if not, the subject is considered not compliant with the rule for a lack of authorization.

Abstract: A method (300;600) and system for monitoring distributed applications (for example, running on multiple WAS nodes of a cluster) is proposed. The solution of the invention is based on a self-adaptive resource management infrastructure. Particularly, an authority publishes (306-312) a plurality of rules, each one defining a desired target configuration for a category of subjects. A membership controller on each subject is responsible to assign (315-333) the subject to the respective category; a compliance engine then retrieves and applies (336-351) the rules corresponding to the category of the subject. The resource management infrastructure is used to implement a monitoring on-demand of the distributed application. For this purpose, two rules are defined (603-606) for the WAS nodes having the distributed application in a running condition and in a non-running condition, respectively.

Abstract: A software distribution method (300b) and a corresponding system are proposed. In a software distribution application, packages including instructions specifying the actions to be carried out on each target computer for installing or removing selected software products are prepared in a central site; typically, the actions are conditioned to a hardware configuration of the target computer. Each package is transmitted to the target computer, and the corresponding instructions are interpreted so as to enforce the desired software products meeting the current configuration of the target computer. In the solution of the invention, the configuration of the target computer is monitored to detect (337) any hardware upgrade. In response thereto, the target computer generates (339-351) a list of actions for removing software products not meeting the new configuration any longer and a list of action for installing software products now meeting the new configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a software distribution application, which is used to deploy software products to multiple endpoints. The software distribution application supports either bundled packages (detailing all the operations to be executed on the endpoints) or native packages (including a simple command for launching an external installation program); an introspection attribute is added to discriminate the two types of packages. Whenever an endpoint receives (314) a native package, a snapshot of the endpoint is taken (332) using a reverse engineering tool (such as AutoPack). The desired software product is then installed launching (334) the corresponding external installation program. As soon as the installation has been completed, a further snapshot of the endpoint is taken (336). A reversed package is built (338-339) according to a comparison between the two snapshots.

Abstract: In an autonomic management method for self-configuring a subject entity in a data processing system, the subject entity retrieves, from a set of rules published by an authority entity, one or more rules corresponding at least one category of the subject entity. Each rule defines a desired state for a category, and at least one retrieved rule includes at least one formal parameter defining a correlation with at least one further category. For each retrieved rule, the subject entity resolves each formal parameter included in the retrieved rule by associating each further category specified in the formal parameter with at least one further subject entity belonging to the further category. The subject entity also applies the retrieved rule to configure the subject entity according to the desired state specified in the retrieved rule.

Abstract: A method of managing configuration changes in a data processing system, particularly a network wherein software products (250) must be distributed to client workstations. The method provides the definition of reference models (220e-220d) arranged in a tree (215); each reference model includes configuration elements (such as software products and/or hardware features and their desired target status) for the corresponding client workstations (subscribers). A target configuration (230) of the client workstations associated with each reference model is determined by inheriting the configuration elements of the parent reference models. A list of actions (245) to be carried out on each client workstation for reaching the corresponding target configuration is determined by comparing the target configuration with a current configuration of the client workstation stored in a corresponding inventory (245).